In order to increase tourism, Indian Railways announced today the introduction oftheme-based tourist circuit trains Bharat Gaurav Trains to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world.
Context
In order to increase tourism, Indian Railways announced today the introduction oftheme-based tourist circuit trains Bharat Gaurav Trains to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world.
About
- Under the Scheme, 190 trains are to be operated on lease by private players and state entities such as tourism departments and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
- Individuals to societies, tour operators and even state governments could apply to take these trains and run them on a special circuit based on a theme.
- And the process for applying for such a train is simple: Register online with a one-time fee of Rs 1 lakh.
- The ministry has identified 3,033 coaches for Bharat Gaurav trains.
- Each pair of Bharat Gaurav trains will have 14 to 16 coaches including two guard vans.
Contribution of Tourism sector
- The World Travel and Tourism Council reported that in 2020, the travel & tourism industry’s contribution to the GDP was US$ 121.9 billion and this is expected to reach US$ 512 billion by 2028.
- In India, the industry’s direct contribution to the GDP is expected to record an annual growth rate of 10.35 percent between 2019 and 2028.
- Also, the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 ranked India 34th out of 140 countries overall, showing India’s efforts to improve in the field.
Important Schemes promoting tourism
- National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive or PRASHAD
- Swadesh Darshan
- Buddhist Conclave
- Dekho Apna Desh Initiative
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Similar themed-trains
- Ramayana train circuit: The IRCTC is already running the Ramayana train circuit, which takes passengers to visit important places related to the life of Lord Ram like Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Sitamarhi, in a span of 17 days.
- The Railways is also planning a gurdwara train circuit, which will connect the prominent gurdwaras across the country. These are to be called the Gurukripa trains.
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Similar themed-trains in other countries
- Japan: Japan runs the Pokémon with You train.
- Spain: In Spain, there's the Cervantes Train that departs from Madrid and arrives in the city of Alcalá de Henares, the birthplace of the most famous Spanish writer of all time: Miguel de Cervantes. Even the journey itself is interesting as various actors in 17th-century costume accompany the travellers.
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